KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) - When hip-hop star MC Hammer was still known as Stanley Burrell, he was a batboy for the Oakland Athletics.
He picked up the Hammer moniker because he resembled Braves star Hank Aaron, whose nicknames were Hammerin' Hank and The Hammer. MC Hammer filmed a TV ad for the Atlanta Braves on Thursday. Wearing a Braves jersey, he took batting practice Friday at The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports.
"I woke up hitting - in 1962," Hammer called out before taking his swings.
"We'll see," answered Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton.
Hammer hit a line drive on his first swing and had several fly balls of medium depth.
"I had to get 20 to 25 years of rust off," he said. "After that, I felt great."
He picked up the Hammer moniker because he resembled Braves star Hank Aaron, whose nicknames were Hammerin' Hank and The Hammer. MC Hammer filmed a TV ad for the Atlanta Braves on Thursday. Wearing a Braves jersey, he took batting practice Friday at The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports.
"I woke up hitting - in 1962," Hammer called out before taking his swings.
"We'll see," answered Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton.
Hammer hit a line drive on his first swing and had several fly balls of medium depth.
"I had to get 20 to 25 years of rust off," he said. "After that, I felt great."